Hard-tissue implant

ABSTRACT

Hard-tissue implants are provided that include a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots. The pillars are for implantation into a hard tissue. The slots are to be occupied by the hard tissue. The hard-tissue implant has a Young&#39;s modulus of elasticity of at least 10 GPa, has a ratio of the sum of (i) the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1, does not comprise any part that is hollow, and does not comprise any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends of any of the pillars. Methods of making and using hard-tissue implants are also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a hard-tissue implant, andmore particularly to a hard-tissue implant including a bulk implant, aface, pillars, and slots.

BACKGROUND

Conventional hard-tissue implants include implants designed to promoteingrowth of hard tissue based on forming a tissue/implant interface inwhich the implant forms a continuous phase and the tissue forms adiscontinuous phase, e.g. based on the implant having a concave and/orporous surface into which the hard tissue can grow, and designed to haveadd-on surface modifications, e.g. modifications added based onsintering.

For example, Van Kampen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,052, discloses animplant for use in a human body having an integral attachment surfaceadapted to permit ingrowth of living tissue. The implant surface isdefined by a multiplicity of adjacent, generally concave surface partshaving intersecting, generally aligned rims defining an inner attachmentsurface portion and by a multiplicity of spaced posts projecting fromthe inner attachment surface. Van Kampen also discloses that implantshave been provided with porous surfaces, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,605,123, 3,808,606, and 3,855,638.

Also for example, J. D. Bobyn et al, 150 Clinical Orthopaedics & RelatedResearch 263 (1980), discloses that a pore size range of approximately50 to 400 μm provided an optimal or maximal fixation strength (17 MPa)in the shortest time period (8 weeks) with regard to cobalt-base alloyimplants with powder-made porous surfaces. Specifically, implants werefabricated based on coating cylindrical rods of cast cobalt-base alloywith cobalt base alloy powder in four particle size ranges. The particlesize ranges were as follows: 25 to 45 μm; 45 to 150 μm; 150 to 300 μm;and 300 to 840 μm. The corresponding pore size ranges of the particleswere as follows: 20 to 50 μm; 50 to 200 μm; 200 to 400 μm; and 400 to800 μm, respectively. The particles were then bonded to the rods basedon sintering. All implants were manufactured to have a maximal diameterof 4.5 mm and a length of 9.0 mm. The implants were surgically insertedinto holes in dog femurs and bone ingrowth was allowed to proceed. Aftervarying periods of time (4, 8, or 12 weeks), the maximum force requiredto dislodge the implants was determined. Implants with a pore size lowerthan 50 μm yielded relatively low fixation strengths at all time points,while implants with a pore size higher than 400 μm exhibited relativelyhigh scatter with regard to fixation strengths, thus indicating that apore size range of approximately 50 to 400 μm provided an optimal ormaximal fixation strength.

Conventional hard-tissue implants also include implants having surfacetexturing, e.g. barbs or pillars, to make it difficult to withdraw theimplants from hard tissue or to more effectively mechanically anchor atan early date or affix into adjoining hard tissue.

For example, Amrich et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,018,418, discloses implantshaving a textured surface with microrecesses such that the outer surfaceoverhangs the microrecesses. In one embodiment, unidirectional barbs areproduced in the surface that can be inserted into bone or tissue. Thedirectional orientation of the barbs is intended to make it difficult towithdraw from the bone or tissue.

Also for example, Picha, U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,648, discloses a spinalimplant, i.e. an implant for use in fusing and stabilizing adjoiningspinal vertebrae, including a hollow, generally tubular shell having anexterior lateral surface, a leading end, and a trailing end. Theexterior surface includes a plurality of pillars arranged in anon-helical array. Each pillar has a height of 100 to 4,500 μm and alateral dimension at the widest point of 100 to 4,500 μm. The exteriorsurface also has a plurality of holes therethrough to permit boneingrowth therethrough.

Unfortunately, interfaces of hard tissue and hard-tissue implants inwhich the hard tissue is in a discontinuous phase may be susceptible tostress shielding, resulting in resorption of affected hard tissue, e.g.bone resorption, over time. Also, addition of surface texturing toimplants by sintering can result in the surface texturing occupying anexcessive volume of corresponding hard tissue/implant interfaces,leaving insufficient space for hard tissue. In addition, spinal implantsare designed to perform under conditions relevant to spine, i.e.compression, rotational shear, and vertical shear, with the compressionbeing essentially constant, the rotational shear being intermittent, andthe vertical shear being rare, rather than conditions relevant to otherhard tissues such as long bone, maxillary bone, mandibular bone, andmembranous bone, i.e. load bearing conditions, including compression andtension, varying across the hard tissue and across time, andintermittent rotational and vertical shear. Accordingly, there is a needfor hard-tissue implants of general applicability that address theseissues and provide improvements. The device disclosed here is such animplant.

SUMMARY

A hard-tissue implant is provided that includes a bulk implant, a face,pillars, and slots. The face is an exterior surface of the bulk implant.The pillars are for implantation into a hard tissue. The pillars aredistributed on the face, across an area of at least 80 mm², and extenddistally therefrom. Each pillar is integral to the bulk implant, has adistal end, has a transverse area of (200 μm×200 μm) to (10,000μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm², and has a height of 100to 10,000 μm. The slots are to be occupied by the hard tissue. The slotsare defined by the pillars. Each slot has a width of 100 to 10,000 μm asmeasured along the shortest distance between adjacent pillars. Thehard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10GPa, and has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii)the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of0.40:1 to 0.90:1. The hard-tissue implant does not include any part thatis hollow, and does not include any non-pillar part extending to orbeyond the distal ends of any of the pillars.

Also provided is a method of making a hard-tissue implant that, uponimplantation into a hard tissue, provides immediate load transfer andprevents stress shielding. The hard-tissue implant includes a bulkimplant, a face, pillars, and slots. The face is an exterior surface ofthe bulk implant. The pillars are for implantation into a hard tissue.The pillars are distributed on the face, across an area of at least 80mm², and extend distally therefrom. Each pillar is integral to the bulkimplant, has a distal end, has a transverse area of (200 μm×200 μm) to(10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm², and has a heightof 100 to 10,000 μm. The slots are to be occupied by the hard tissue.The slots are defined by the pillars. Each slot has a width of 100 to10,000 μm as measured along the shortest distance between adjacentpillars. The hard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity ofat least 10 GPa, and has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of theslots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes ofthe slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1. The hard-tissue implant does not includeany part that is hollow, and does not include any non-pillar partextending to or beyond the distal ends of any of the pillars. The methodincludes designing the hard-tissue implant such that the ratio of (i)the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard-tissue implant and(b) the sum of the volumes of the pillars to (ii) the product of (a) theYoung's modulus of the hard tissue and (b) the sum of the volumes of theslots will be 0.80:1 to 3.8:1. The method also includes making thehard-tissue implant.

Also provided is a method of use of a hard-tissue implant in a hardtissue of an individual in need thereof. The hard-tissue implantincludes a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots. The face is anexterior surface of the bulk implant. The pillars are for implantationinto a hard tissue. The pillars are distributed on the face, across anarea of at least 80 mm², and extend distally therefrom. Each pillar isintegral to the bulk implant, has a distal end, has a transverse area of(200 μm×200 μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸μm², and has a height of 100 to 10,000 μm. The slots are to be occupiedby the hard tissue. The slots are defined by the pillars. Each slot hasa width of 100 to 10,000 μm as measured along the shortest distancebetween adjacent pillars. The hard-tissue implant has a Young's modulusof elasticity of at least 10 GPa, and has a ratio of (i) the sum of thevolumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars andthe volumes of the slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1. The hard-tissue implantdoes not include any part that is hollow, and does not include anynon-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends of any of thepillars. The method includes selecting the hard-tissue implant such thatthe ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of the volumes of the pillars to(ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b)the sum of the volume of the slots is 0.80:1 to 3.8:1. The method alsoincludes implanting the hard-tissue implant in the hard-tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure are better understood when the following detailed descriptionis read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a hard-tissue implant;

FIG. 2 is another schematic perspective view of a hard-tissue implant;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of a hard-tissue implant;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of a hard-tissue implant;

FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view of a pillar of a hard-tissueimplant;

FIG. 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a pillar of a hard-tissueimplant;

FIGS. 6A-E are schematic top plan views of a hard-tissue implant inwhich the circumference of the transverse area of the pillars thereofhave (A) a square shape, (B) a rectangular shape, (C) a herringboneshape, (D) a circular shape, and (E) an oval shape;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of part of a hard-tissue implant;

FIGS. 8A-E are graphs of canine compressive results, expressed as load(N) versus extension (mm), for canine femur implants corresponding to(A) a control implant, (B) implant 1, (C) implant 2, (D) implant 3, and(E) implant 4;

FIG. 9 is a graph of average ultimate load (N) at failure for thecontrol implant and implants 1 to 4; and

FIGS. 10A-D are histological micrographs at 4× magnification of (A)implant 1 (PEEK, 100 μm slot width) face 25 μm cut H&E stain, (B)implant 2 (PEEK, 200 μm slot width) face 25 μm trichrome stain, (C)implant 3 (PEEK, 400 μm slot width) face 25 μm trichrome stain, and (D)implant 4 (titanium, 400 μm slot width) 25 μm trichrome stain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings in which example embodiments ofthe invention are shown. Whenever possible, the same reference numeralsare used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.However, this invention may be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.These example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will beboth thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of theinvention to those skilled in the art.

As set forth in the figures, example hard-tissue implants are provided.The hard-tissue implants provide advantages, including for example thatthe hard-tissue implants can promote hard-tissue remodeling and growthat the site of implantation and that the interface of the hard-tissueimplants and the hard tissue can withstand substantial yield/elongationand load before failure. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that these advantages are based on properties of thehard-tissue implants and the interface resulting from implantationthereof Specifically, the hard-tissue implants can provide immediateload transfer upon implantation and prevent stress shielding over time,thus promoting hard-tissue remodeling and growth at the site ofimplantation. For example, by providing immediate load transfer, thepillars of the implants may be pressed deeply into hard tissue, allowingenhanced load transfer, potentially eliminating micro-motion andmigration of the implant over time, accommodating torque, and/oreliminating the need for adhesives such as cement or grout to hold theimplant in place. Moreover, the interface can have a continuous phasecorresponding to the hard tissue and a discontinuous phase correspondingto the hard-tissue implant. The hard tissue can also make up at least40% of the volume of the interface, and the product of the Young'smodulus of elasticity of the hard tissue and the volume of the tissueand the product of the Young's modulus of elasticity of the implant andthe volume of the pillars of the implant can be well matched. Thus, theinterface exhibits mechanical properties similar to those of the bulkhard tissue adjacent to the interface. The result is that the interfacefollowing implantation of a hard-tissue implant into a hard tissue issurprisingly long-lasting and resilient to load. In addition, thehard-tissue implants may promote rich vascularization of the hard tissueof the interface, enhancing wound healing, providing nutritionalsupport, accelerating healing, remodeling, and integration of the hardtissue, and limiting the potential for infection of the hard tissue.Rapid or immediate integration of the hard tissue into the space betweenthe pillars of the hard-tissue implant, e.g. by immediate impregnationof the implant into the surrounding tissue without need for subsequentingrowth by the hard tissue, may also prevent detrimental cellularreactions at the interface, such as formation of fibrous tissue, seroma,or thrombosis.

As used herein, the term “hard-tissue implant” means an implant suitablefor implantation in a hard tissue. Exemplary hard-tissue implantsinclude rods, plates, screws, pins, and devices for anchoring into bone.Exemplary hard-tissue implants also include a tibial implant, a femurimplant, a shoulder implant, a small joint implant, a skull plateimplant, a cervical implant, and a metatarsal implant. Exemplary hardtissue implants also include a dental implant. Exemplary hard-tissueimplants also include cartilage implants. Exemplary hard tissuessuitable for implantation of the hard-tissue implants include bone,cartilage, calcified cartilage, non-calcified cartilage, and tissue thathas become mineralized. Exemplary hard tissues also include long bone,maxillary bone, mandibular bone, and membranous bone. Exemplary hardtissues also include tibia, femur, shoulder, small joints, skull, andmetatarsal. Exemplary hard tissues also include spine.

As used herein, the term “pillar” means a projection that extendsdistally from a face of a hard-tissue implant, that is not in directphysical contact with any other pillars or other parts of the implantother than the face, and that is for implantation into a hard tissue.Because a pillar is not in direct physical contact with any otherpillars or other parts of the implant other than the face, uponimplantation into a hard tissue no pillar forms a continuous phasewithin the resulting interface of the hard tissue and hard-tissueimplant. A pillar can have a transverse area, i.e. an area of across-section taken relative to a vertical axis along which the pillarextends distally from the face of the implant, of, for example, (i) (200μm×200 μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm²,(ii) (200 μm×200 μm) to (2,000 μm×2,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 4.0×10⁶μm², (iii) (250 μm×250 μm) to (1,000 μm×1,000 μm), i.e. 6.3×10⁴ μm² to1.0×10⁶ μm², (iv) (300 μm×300 μm) to (500 μm×500 μm), i.e. 9×10⁴ μm² to2.5×10⁵ μm², (v) (350 μm×350 μm) to (450 μm×450 μm), i.e. 1.2×10⁵ μm² to2.0×10⁵ μm², or (vi) (395 μm×395 μm) to (405 μm×405 μm), i.e. 1.6×10⁵μm². Of note, the expression of transverse areas of pillars as squaresof linear dimensions, i.e. (200 μm×200 μm), here and throughout thisapplication, is for purposes of convenience only and is not intended tolimit any pillars so described to square shapes, square transverseareas, or square cross-sections. A pillar can have a pillar height, i.e.the height of the pillar from the face of the hard-tissue implant to thedistal end of the pillar, of, for example, 100 to 10,000 μm, 100 to5,000 μm, 200 to 2,500 μm, 300 to 1,000 μm, 400 to 600 μm, 450 to 550μm, 490 to 510 μm, or 500 μm. A pillar can have a volume, i.e. productof pillar transverse area and pillar height, of, for example (i) (200μm×200 μm×100 μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁶ μm³to 1.0×10¹² μm³, (ii) (200 μm×200 μm×100 μm) to (2,000 μm×2,000 μm×5,000μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁶ μm³ to 2.0×10¹⁰ μm³, (iii) (250 μm×250 μm×200 μm) to(1,000 μm×1,000 μm×2,500 μm), i.e. 1.3×10⁷ μm³ to 2.5×10⁹ μm³, (iv) (300μm×300 μm×300 μm) to (500 μm×500 μm×1,000 μm), i.e. 2.7×10⁷ μm³ to2.5×10⁸ μm³, (v) (350 μm×350 μm×400 μm) to (450 μm×450 μm×600 μm), i.e.4.9×10⁷ μm³ to 1.2×10⁸ μm³, or (vi) (395 μm×395 μm×490 μm) to (405μm×405 μm×510 μm), i.e. 7.7×10⁷ μm³ to 8.4×10⁷ μm³. A pillar can have,as seen from a top view, a square shape, a rectangular shape, aherringbone shape, a circular shape, or an oval shape, respectively, oralternatively can have other polygonal, curvilinear, or variable shapes.

As used herein, the term “slot” means the spaces between the pillars.Accordingly, the pillars define the slots. The slots can have a slotheight as defined by the pillars, of, for example, 100 to 10,000 μm, 100to 5,000 μm, 200 to 2,500 μm, 300 to 1,000 μm, 400 to 600 μm, 450 to 550μm, or 500 μm. The slots can have a slot width as measured along theshortest distance between adjacent pillars of, for example, 100 to10,000 μm, 100 to 7,500 μm, 100 to 3,000 μm, 150 to 1,000 μm, 175 to 450μm, 190 to 410 μm, 190 to 210 μm, or 390 to 410 μm. The slots have avolume corresponding to the volume of the space between the pillars.

As used herein, the term “pore” refers to a void space of less than1,000 μm in size, i.e. having a diameter of less than 1,000 μm, on orbelow a surface, e.g. the surface of a hard-tissue implant. Pores canoccur in a material naturally, e.g. based on a natural porosity of thematerial, or can be introduced, e.g. by chemical or physical treatment.Pores can be continuous with respect to each other, based on beinginterconnected with each other below a surface, or pores can bediscontinuous, based on not being interconnected with each other below asurface. Pores can be sufficiently large to allow for migration andproliferation of osteoblasts and mesenchymal cells. Accordingly, forexample, a porous surface is a surface that includes void spaces of lessthan 1,000 μm in size in the surface, whereas a non-porous surface is asurface that does not include such a void space.

As used herein the term “hollow,” when used in reference to a part of ahard-tissue implant, means that the part includes, below a surfacethereof, at least one void space, e.g. cavity, hole, or the like, ofmore than 5,000 μm in size, i.e. having a diameter greater than 5,000μm. Accordingly, a part that is not hollow does not include any suchvoid space.

As used herein, the term “interface resulting from implantation of thehard-tissue implant into a hard tissue,” or more simply “interface,”means the product of implantation wherein the pillars of the hard-tissueimplant are implanted in a hard tissue and the slots of the hard-tissueimplant are occupied, partially or completely, by the hard tissue. Theinterface includes the pillars, the hard tissue that occupies the slotsof the hard-tissue implant, any remaining unoccupied space in the slots,any hard tissue that occupies any additional space between the face ofthe implant and a plane defined by the distal ends of the pillars, andany hard tissue that occupies any pores on the face or the pillars.Accordingly, the interface boundaries are the face of the hard tissueimplant, the internal surfaces of any pores on the face, and the bulktissue surrounding interface. In one example embodiment, e.g.immediately after pressing the hard-tissue implant into the hard tissueand/or after remodeling and growth of the hard tissue to fill in allspace between the hard-tissue implant and the hard tissue, the pillarsare implanted in the hard tissue, and the slots are completely occupiedby the hard tissue. In another example embodiment, e.g. after implantingthe hard-tissue implant partially into the hard tissue and/or beforeremodeling and growth of the hard tissue to fill in all space betweenthe hard-tissue implant and the hard tissue, the pillars are partiallyimplanted in the hard tissue, and the slots are partially occupied bythe hard tissue.

As used herein, the term “continuous,” when used for example inreference to the hard-tissue of an interface, means that the hard tissueforms a single continuous phase, extending throughout and across theinterface to each boundary of the interface. As used herein, the term“discontinuous,” when used for example in reference to the hard-tissueimplant of an interface, means that the hard-tissue implant does notform such a single continuous phase.

Hard-Tissue Implant

Considering the features of an example hard-tissue implant in moredetail, FIG. 1 provides a schematic illustration in perspective view ofone example hard-tissue implant 100 in perspective view for illustrationpurposes. As described in more detail below, the hard-tissue implant 100can be made from a material having a Young's modulus of elasticity, i.e.a tensile modulus of elasticity, of at least 10 GPa, as measured at 21°C., including for example (i) implantable-grade polyetheretherketone,e.g. carbon-fiber-reinforced implantable-grade polyetheretherketone,which has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 18 GPa, (ii)titanium, which has a Young's modulus of elasticity of approximately 110GPa, (iii) stainless steel, which has a Young's modulus of elasticity ofapproximately 200 GPa, (iv) cobalt-chromium alloy, which has a Young'smodulus of elasticity of greater than 200 GPa, or (iv) titanium alloy,which has a Young's modulus of elasticity of approximately 105-120 GPa,all as measured at 21° C. The hard-tissue implant 100 can be also madefrom a hard tissue obtained from a human or animal, e.g. an autologoushard tissue, an allogeneic hard tissue, a xenogeneic hard tissue, humancartilage, animal cartilage, a human bone, an animal bone, or a cadaverbone. Such hard tissues obtained from a human or animal can have aYoung's modulus of elasticity of, e.g. 10 to 18 GPa. Such hard tissuesobtained from a human or animal can also be treated, in advance ofimplantation, to decrease or eliminate the capacity of the hard tissueto elicit an immune response in an individual upon implantation into theindividual. The hard-tissue implant can also be made from more than oneof the above-noted materials and/or hard tissues. Accordingly, thehard-tissue implant 100 has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least10 GPa, for example 18 to 230 GPa, 18 to 25 GPa, 100 to 110 GPa, 190 to210 GPa, 200 to 230 GPa, 105 to 120 GPa, or 10 to 18 GPa.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hard-tissue implant 100 includes a bulk implant110, a face 120, pillars 140, and slots 150.

Considering the bulk implant 110 in more detail, as shown in FIG. 1 thebulk implant 110 forms the core of the hard-tissue implant 100 and canhave a three-dimensional rectangular prism shape, although cuboidal,cylindrical, pyramidal, conical, and other three-dimensional shapes maybe used in further examples. The bulk implant 110 can be made from oneor more of the materials or hard tissues noted above with respect to theimplant 100, e.g. a material such as implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy,or titanium alloy, or e.g. a hard tissue obtained from a human or animalsuch as an autologous hard tissue, an allogeneic hard tissue, axenogeneic hard tissue, human cartilage, animal cartilage, a human bone,an animal bone, or a cadaver bone.

The bulk implant 110 can be porous or non-porous. For example, the bulkimplant 110 can include one or more surfaces that are porous, and/or canbe made from one or more materials that are porous. Such porous surfacescan include pores having diameters of, e.g. 1 to 900 μm, 100 to 800 or200 to 600 μm. Also for example, the bulk implant 110 can include onlysurfaces that are non-porous, and/or can be made only from one or morematerials that are non-porous.

Considering now the face 120 in more detail, as shown in FIG. 1 the face120 of the hard-tissue implant 100 is an exterior surface of the bulkimplant 110, having a total area 160. As shown in FIG. 1, the face 120can be flat, i.e. have a flat contour. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.2, the face 120 can be cylindrical, i.e. have a cylindrical contour. Asfurther alternatives, the face 120 can have other angular, curvilinear,and/or irregular contours. As shown in FIG. 3, the face 120 can have arectangular peripheral shape as seen from a top view, although otherpolygonal, curvilinear, or other shapes may be used in further examples.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the face can be defined by an edge 130. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the edge 130 can be a single continuousedge that defines the face 120. Also for example, as shown in FIG. 2,the edge 130 can be two edges that are discontinuous with respect toeach other that together define the face 120. Also for example, the edge130 can be three or more edges that are discontinuous with respect toeach other that together define the face 120. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the edge 130 and the pillars 140 closest to the edge 130 can define aperipheral border 122 of the face 120. As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the edge 130 can define an intersection between the face 120 and one ormore adjacent faces 124 of the hard-tissue implant 100. As shown, theface 120 and the one or more adjacent faces 124 may intersect at theedge 130 at a right angle, although the face 120 and the one or moreadjacent faces 124 may also intersect at other angles, e.g. acuteangles, obtuse angles, or varying angles. As also shown, the edge 130can be sharp, although other rounded, angular, smooth, and/or irregularedges may be used in further examples. The face 120 can be porous, e.g.including pores having diameters of, e.g. 1 to 900 μm, 100 to 800 μm, or200 to 600 μm, or the face 120 can be non-porous. The bulk implant 110can include more than one face 120, e.g. two, three, four, five, or morefaces 120.

Considering now the pillars 140 in more detail, the pillars 140 are forimplantation into a hard tissue. The hard tissue can be selected, forexample, from the group consisting of bone, cartilage, calcifiedcartilage, non-calcified cartilage, and tissue that has becomemineralized. The hard tissue can also be selected, for example, from thegroup consisting of long bone, maxillary bone, mandibular bone, andmembranous bone. The hard tissue can also be selected, for example, fromthe group consisting of tibia, femur, shoulder, small joints, skull, andmetatarsal. The hard tissue can also be, for example, spine.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pillars 140 are distributed on the face 120 ofthe hard-tissue implant 100, across an area 170 of the face 120 of atleast 80 mm². For example, the pillars 140 can be distributed in aregular pattern 310 on the face 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100,across the area 170 of the face 120. In this regard, the pillars 140 canbe distributed in even rows along a horizontal axis 320 and a verticalaxis 330 of the face 120, and can be distributed along a given rowuniformly with respect to the distances between the centers 142 of thepillars 140 in the row. Also for example, the pillars 140 can also bedistributed in other regular patterns, e.g. the pillars 140 can bedistributed in rows that are even with respect to the horizontal axis320 but not the vertical axis 330, or vice versa, the pillars 140 in onerow may be offset from the pillars 140 in adjacent rows, the pillars 140may be arranged in a spiral pattern, etc. Also for example, the pillars140 can be distributed on the face 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100 inirregular patterns or randomly. For example, the pillars 140 can bedistributed on the face 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100 such that thepillars 140 are packed more densely on one area of the face 120 and lessdensely on another area of the face 120. Moreover, for a bulk implant110 including more than one face 120 across which pillars 140 aredistributed, the pillars 140 can be distributed differently on thevarious faces 120, e.g. in different regular patterns 310, in differentirregular patterns, and/or packed at different densities.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pillars 140 can be distributed on theface 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100 such that none of the pillars140 are located at an edge 130, i.e. the face 120 can have a peripheralborder 122 that is not occupied by any pillars 140, resulting in thearea 170 of the face 120 across which the pillars 140 are distributedbeing less than the total area 160 of the face 120. In other exampleembodiments the pillars 140 can be distributed on the face 120 of thehard-tissue implant 100 such that at least some of the pillars 140 arelocated at an edge 130, e.g. the area 170 of the face 120 across whichthe pillars 140 are distributed can be equal to the total area 160 ofthe face 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pillars 140 extend distally from the face 120 ofthe hard-tissue implant 100. For example, the pillars 140 can extenddistally along a vertical axis 410 from the face 120 of the hard-tissueimplant 100. As shown, the pillars 140 can extend in a uniformdirection, i.e. all pillars 140 extend distally at the same angle withrespect to the face 120 and in the same direction. Also for example,some pillars 140 may extend distally at a different angle and/or in adifferent direction relative to other pillars 140, for example for ahard-tissue implant 100 for which the face 120 is not flat. As alsoshown, the pillars 140 can be perpendicular to the face 120, e.g.extending perpendicularly from the face 120. Also for example, thepillars 140 can extend from the face 120 at other angles and/or varyingangles.

As shown in FIG. 1, each pillar 140 is integral to the bulk implant 110,i.e. the pillars 140 and the bulk implant 110 are made from the samestarting material, rather than, for example, the pillars 140 being anadd-on to the bulk implant 110. Like the bulk implant 110, the pillars140 can be porous, e.g. including pores having diameters of, e.g. 1 to900 μm, 100 to 800 μm, or 200 to 600 μm, or the pillars 140 can benon-porous.

As shown in FIG. 4, each pillar 140 has a distal end 430, correspondingto the distal-most portion of the pillar 140 relative to the face 120 ofthe hard-tissue implant 100. As also shown, each pillar 140 can havedistal edges 432, corresponding to edges defining the distal end 430 ofeach pillar 140. Each pillar 140 can also have lateral edges 434,corresponding to edges of the lateral sides of each pillar 140. Asfurther shown, the distal edges 432 and/or the lateral edges 434 can besharp, although other rounded, angular, smooth, and/or irregular edgesmay be used in further examples.

With respect to dimensions of the pillars 140, as shown in FIGS. 5A and5B each pillar 140 has a transverse area 510, i.e. an area of across-section taken relative to the vertical axis 410 along which thepillar 140 extends distally from the face 120, of, for example, (i) (200μm×200 μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm²,(ii) (200 μm×200 μm) to (2,000 μm×2,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 4.0×10⁶μm², (iii) (250 μm×250 μm) to (1,000 μm×1,000 μm), i.e. 6.3×10⁴ μm² to1.0×10⁶ μm², (iv) (300 μm×300 μm) to (500 μm×500 μm), i.e. 9×10⁴ μm² to2.5×10⁵ μm², (v) (350 μm×350 μm) to (450 μm×450 μm), i.e. 1.2×10⁵ μm² to2.0×10⁵ μm², or (vi) (395 μm×395 μm) to (405 μm×405 μm), i.e. 1.6×10⁵μm². As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5B, each pillar 140 has a pillar height420, i.e. the height of the pillar 140 from the face 120 of thehard-tissue implant 100 to the distal end 430 of the pillar 140, of, forexample, 100 to 10,000 μm, 100 to 5,000 μm, 200 to 2,500 μm, 300 to1,000 μm, 400 to 600 μm, 450 to 550 μm, 490 to 510 μm, or 500 μm. Asshown in FIG. 5A, each pillar 140 has a volume 520, i.e. product ofpillar transverse area 510 and pillar height 420, of, for example (i)(200 μm×200 μm×100 μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁶μm³ to 1.0×10¹² μm³, (ii) (200 μm×200 μm×100 μm) to (2,000 μm×2,000μm×5,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁶ μm³ to 2.0×10¹⁰ μm³, (iii) (250 μm×250 μm×200μm) to (1,000 μm×1,000 μm×2,500 μm), i.e. 1.3×10⁷ μm³ to 2.5×10⁹ μm³,(iv) (300 μm×300 μm×300 μm) to (500 μm×500 μm×1,000 μm), i.e. 2.7×10⁷μm³ to 2.5×10⁸ μm³, (v) (350 μm×350 μm×400 μm) to (450 μm×450 μm×600μm), i.e. 4.9×10⁷ μm³ to 1.2×10⁸ μm³, or (vi) (395 μm×395 μm×490 μm) to(405 μm×405 μm×510 μm), i.e. 7.7×10⁷ μm³ to 8.4×10⁷ μm³. As shown inFIG. 1, the pillars 140 can, for example, all have identical dimensions,e.g. identical pillar transverse areas 510, pillars heights 420, andthus identical individual volumes. Alternatively, one or more pillars140 can have dimensions that differ from those of other pillars 140,such that the individual volumes of the one or more pillars 140 differfrom those of the other pillars 140.

Turning to FIGS. 6A-6E, corresponding to a top plan view of hard-tissueimplants 100 having pillars 140 of various shapes, the pillars 140 canhave, as seen from a top view, a square shape 610, a rectangular shape620, a herringbone shape 630, a circular shape 640, or an oval shape650, respectively, or alternatively can have other polygonal,curvilinear, or variable shapes. For example, in some embodiments allpillars 140 can have the same shape, e.g. a square shape 610, arectangular shape 620, a herringbone shape 630, a circular shape 640, oran oval shape 650, as seen from a top view. Also for example, in someembodiments not all pillars 140 have the same shape as seen from a topview.

Considering now the slots 150 in more detail, the slots 150 are to beoccupied by the hard tissue. For example, upon implantation of thehard-tissue implant 100 into a hard tissue, the hard tissue canimmediately occupy all or part of the space corresponding to the slots150. This can be accomplished, for example, by pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into the hard tissue. Moreover, to the extent that the hardtissue does not, upon implantation, immediately occupy all of the spacecorresponding to slots 150, the hard tissue can eventually occupy all orpart of the space corresponding to the slots 150 based on remodelingand/or growth of the hard tissue over time.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the pillars 140 define the slots 150therebetween, i.e. the slots 150 are the spaces between the pillars 140.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the slots 150 have a slot height 440 asdefined by the pillars 140, of, for example, 100 to 10,000 μm, 100 to5,000 μm, 200 to 2,500 μm, 300 to 1,000 μm, 400 to 600 μm, 450 to 550μm, or 500 μm. As shown in FIGS. 6A-E, the slots 150 have a slot width152 as measured along the shortest distance between adjacent pillars 140of, for example, 100 to 10,000 μm, 100 to 7,500 μm, 100 to 3,000 μm, 150to 1,000 μm, 175 to 450 μm, 190 to 410 μm, 190 to 210 μm, or 390 to 410μm. As shown in FIG. 7, the slots 150 have a volume 710 corresponding tothe volume of the space between the pillars 140.

The hard-tissue implant 100 has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150, of, for example, 0.40:1 to0.90:1, 0.51:1 to 0.90:1, 0.51:1 to 0.60:1, or 0.70:1 to 0.76:1. Withoutwishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that this ratio determinesthe approximate percentages of hard tissue and hard-tissue implant 100that will occupy the interface following implantation of the hard-tissueimplant 100, e.g. that upon pressing the implant 100 into the hardtissue, or upon remodeling and growth of the hard-tissue followingimplantation, that the hard tissue will occupy all or essentially all ofthe space corresponding to the slots 150 of the hard-tissue implant 100.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the interface includes (i) thepillars 140, (ii) the slots 150 of the hard-tissue implant 100, whichhave a volume 710 and which, upon or following implantation, becomeoccupied by hard tissue, (iii) any additional space between the face 120of the implant 100 and a plane 720 defined by the distal ends 430 of thepillars 140, e.g. the space between the peripheral border 122 of theface 120 that is not occupied by pillars 140 and the plane 720, whichhas a volume 730 and which also becomes occupied by hard tissue, and(iv) any pores 740 on the face 120 or the pillars 140, which, dependingon their size, may also become occupied by hard tissue.

Accordingly, for example, a ratio of the sum of (i) the volumes 710 ofthe slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 andthe volumes 710 of the slots 150 of 0.40:1 would, following implantationof a hard-tissue implant 100 and subsequent remodeling and growth ofhard tissue, wherein the implant 100 includes an edge 130 and for whichpillars 140 are located at the edge 130, result in an interface thatincludes by volume 40% hard tissue and 60% hard-tissue implant 100, andmore particularly 60% pillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant 100.Similarly, a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to(ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710of the slots 150 of 0.40:1 would, following implantation of ahard-tissue implant 100 and subsequent remodeling and growth of hardtissue, wherein the implant 100 includes an edge 130 and for which nopillars 140 are located at the edge 130, result in an interface thatincludes by volume more than 40% hard tissue and less than 60%hard-tissue implant 100, with the percentage of hard tissue increasing,and the percentage of hard-tissue implant 100 decreasing, withincreasing distance between the peripheral-most pillars 140 and slots150 and the edge 130 of the hard-tissue implant 100. By way of furtherexamples, ratios of 0.51:1, 0.60:1, 0.70:1, 0.76:1, and 0.90:1, wouldresult in interfaces that include, by volume, 51% hard tissue and 49%hard-tissue implant 100, 60% hard tissue and 40% hard-tissue implant100, 70% hard tissue and 30% hard-tissue implant 100, 76% hard tissueand 24% hard-tissue implant 100, and 90% hard tissue and 10% hard-tissueimplant, respectively, for a hard-tissue implant 100 wherein the implant100 includes an edge 130 and for which pillars 140 are located at theedge 130. Moreover, the percentage of hard tissue would increase, andthe percentage of hard-tissue implant 100 would decrease, withincreasing distance between the peripheral-most pillars 140 and slots150 and the edge 130 of the hard-tissue implant 100. It is furtherbelieved that by achieving an interface that is at least 40% hardtissue, but that has a sufficient amount of the hard-tissue implant 100to provide support and to keep the implant 100 from migrating, that theinterface will exhibit properties similar to those of the bulk hardtissue adjacent to the interface, e.g. high resilience to load.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hard-tissue implant 100 does not include anypart that is hollow. By this, it is meant that neither the bulk implant110, nor any of the pillars 140, nor any other physical part (meaningadditional physical components, not the slots 150) of the hard-tissueimplant 100, include, below a surface thereof, any void space, e.g.cavity, hole, or the like, of more than 5,000 μm in size, i.e. having adiameter greater than 5,000 μm.

As also shown in FIG. 1, the hard-tissue implant 100 also does notinclude any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends 430of any of the pillars 140. By this, it is meant that, with respect toany face 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100 from which pillars 140extend distally, no other physical part of the hard-tissue implant 100(meaning additional physical components, not the slots 150) extends to,or beyond, the distal ends 430 of the pillars 140. Put another way, thepillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant 100 are not recessed or sunkenrelative to any other part of the hard-tissue implant 100.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by having thehard-tissue implant 100 not include any part that is hollow and notinclude any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends 430of any of the pillars 140, that the interface resulting fromimplantation of the hard-tissue implant 100 into the hard tissue willresult in an interface that is continuous with respect to the hardtissue and discontinuous with respect to the hard-tissue implant 100. Itis also believed that such an interface will further exhibit propertiessimilar to those of the bulk hard tissue adjacent to the interface, e.g.high resilience to load.

Considering example embodiments of the hard-tissue implant 100 in moredetail, in one example embodiment, the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant 100 is 18 to 25 GPa and the ratio of (i) the sum ofthe volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 ofthe pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 is 0.51:1 to0.60:1. In another example embodiment, the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant 100 is 100 to 110 GPa and the ratio of (i) the sumof the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 is 0.70:1 to0.76:1. In another example embodiment, the hard-tissue implant 100 ismade of implantable-grade polyetheretherketone, the transverse area 510of each pillar 140 is (350 μm×350 μm) to (450 μm×450 μm), the pillarheight 420 of each pillar 140 is 400 to 600 μm, the slot width 152 ofeach slot 150 is 190 to 210 μm, and the ratio of (i) the sum of thevolumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 is 0.85:1 to 1.6:1. Inanother example embodiment, the hard-tissue implant 100 is made ofimplantable-grade polyetheretherketone, the transverse area 510 of eachpillar 140 is (395 μm×395 μm) to (405 μm×405 μm), the pillar height 420of each pillar 140 is 490 to 510 μm, the slot width 152 of each slot 150is 190 to 210 μm, and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes 710 of(ii) the slots 150 to the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 andvolumes 710 of the slots 150 is 0.92:1 to 1.4:1. In another exampleembodiment, the hard-tissue implant 100 is made of titanium, thetransverse area 510 of each pillar 140 is (350 μm×350 μm) to (450 μm×450μm), the pillar height 420 of each pillar 140 is 400 to 600 μm, the slotwidth 152 of each slot 150 is 390 to 410 μm, and the ratio of (i) thesum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 is 2.2:1 to3.7:1. In another example embodiment, the hard-tissue implant 100 ismade of titanium, the transverse area 510 of each pillar 140 is (395μm×395 μm) to (405 μm×405 μm), the pillar height 420 of each pillar 140is 490 to 510 μm, the slot width 152 of each slot 150 is 390 to 410 μm,and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii)the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of theslots 150 is 2.4:1 to 3.5:1.

Methods of Making Hard-Tissue Implants

Methods will now be described for making a hard-tissue implant that,upon implantation into a hard tissue, provides immediate load transferand prevents stress shielding. As described above with reference toFIGS. 1-7, the hard-tissue implant 100 includes a bulk implant 110, aface 120, pillars 140, and slots 150. The face 120 is an exteriorsurface of the bulk implant 110. The pillars 140 are for implantationinto a hard tissue. The pillars 140 are distributed on the face 120 ofthe hard-tissue implant 100, across an area of at least 80 mm². Thepillars 140 extend distally from the face 120 of the hard-tissue implant100. Each pillar 140 is integral to the bulk implant 110, has a distalend 430, has a transverse area of 510 of (200 μm×200 μm) to (10,000μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm², and has a pillar height420 of 100 to 10,000 μm. The slots 150 are to be occupied by the hardtissue. The slots 150 are defined by the pillars 140. Each slot 150 hasa width 152 of 100 to 10,000 μm as measured along the shortest distancebetween adjacent pillars 140. The hard-tissue implant 100 has a Young'smodulus of elasticity of at least 10 GPa and a ratio of (i) the sum ofthe volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 ofthe pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 of 0.40:1 to0.90:1. The hard-tissue implant 100 does not include any part that ishollow, and does not include any non-pillar part extending to or beyondthe distal ends 430 of any of the pillars 140.

The method can include a step of designing the hard-tissue implant 100such that the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150, will be, forexample, 0.80:1 to 3.8:1, 0.90:1 to 3.6:1, 0.85:1 to 1.6:1, 0.92:1 to1.4:1, 2.2:1 to 3.7:1, or 2.4:1 to 3.5:1. Without wishing to be bound bytheory, it is believed that by designing the hard-tissue implant 100 inthis way the interface resulting from implantation of the hard-tissueimplant 100 will have a Young's modulus of elasticity similar to that ofthe bulk hard tissue adjacent to the interface, and again will exhibitproperties similar to those of the bulk hard tissue adjacent to theinterface, e.g. high resilience to load. This step can be carried out,for example by determining the features of the hard-tissue implant 100in view of the particular hard tissue that will be the object ofimplantation. Features to be determined include the material from whichthe hard-tissue implant 100 will be made, the dimensions of the bulkimplant 110 of the hard-tissue implant 100, the area 170 of the face 120of the hard-tissue implant 100 across which pillars 140 will bedistributed, and the number, distribution, size, and direction ofextension of the pillars 140.

The hard tissue can be selected, for example, from the group consistingof bone, cartilage, calcified cartilage, non-calcified cartilage, andtissue that has become mineralized. The hard tissue can also beselected, for example, from the group consisting of long bone, maxillarybone, mandibular bone, and membranous bone. The hard tissue can also beselected, for example, from the group consisting of tibia, femur,shoulder, small joints, skull, and metatarsal. The hard tissue can alsobe, for example, spine.

The hard-tissue implant 100 can be made, for example, of a materialselected from the group consisting of implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy,and titanium alloy. The hard-tissue implant 100 can be also made, forexample, from a hard tissue obtained from a human or animal selectedfrom the group consisting of an autologous hard tissue, an allogeneichard tissue, a xenogeneic hard tissue, human cartilage, animalcartilage, a human bone, an animal bone, and a cadaver bone.

The Young's modulus of elasticity of the hard tissue into which thehard-tissue implant 100 will be implanted can be taken into account. TheYoung's modulus of elasticity of the hard tissue can be determined, forexample, based on previously determined values for hard tissue of thattype or based on direct measurement. For example, it has been reportedin the art that wet human femoral bone yields values for Young's modulusof elasticity, as determined by mechanical testing, as follows: E_(long)17 GPa, E_(transv) 11.5, and E_(transv) 11.5. See, e.g., Elasticanisotropy of bone, http://silver.neep.wisc.edu/˜lakes/BME315N3.pdf(last accessed Dec. 8, 2010) (citing Reilly, D. T. & Burstein, A. H.,The Elastic and Ultimate Properties of Compact Bone Tissue, 8 J.Biomechanics 393-405 (1975)). It has also been reported in the art thatwet bovine femoral bone yields values for Young's modulus of elasticity,as determined by ultrasound, as follows: E_(long) 22 GPa, E_(transv) 15,and E_(transv) 12. See, e.g., Elastic anisotropy of bone (citing VanBuskirk, W. C. & Ashman, R. B., The Elastic Moduli of Bone, inMechanical Properties of Bone, Joint ASME-ASCE Applied Mechanics, FluidsEngineering and Bioengineering Conference, Boulder, Colo., 1981). It hasalso been reported in the art that the stiffness of compact bone tissuevaries with the type of bone, e.g. the Young's moduli of fibular boneand tibial bone are about 18% greater and 7% greater, respectively, thanthe Young's modulus of femoral bone. See, e.g., Elastic anisotropy ofbone.

Also, the hard-tissue implant 100 can include the various exampleembodiments as disclosed above.

Thus, for example, the hard-tissue implant 100 can be designed forimplantation in, for example, a femur. The hard-tissue implant 100 canbe made, for example, of implantable-grade polyetheretherketone, whichhas a Young's modulus of elasticity of 18 GPa. The hard-tissue implant100 can be designed such that the bulk implant 110 thereof has athree-dimensional rectangular prism shape with a length of 12 mm, awidth of 8 mm, and a height of 3 mm. The area 170 of the face 120 acrosswhich the pillars 140 are distributed can be designed, for example, tobe 11.2 mm×7.6 mm, i.e. 85 mm², and to have a flat contour. Thehard-tissue implant 100 can include, for example, pillars 140distributed in a regular pattern of 19 columns across the length of thebulk implant 110 and 13 rows across the width of the bulk implant 110,for a total of 247 pillars 140. The pillars 140 can be designed to have,for example, a square shape as seen in a top view, each pillar 140having a length of 400 μm, a width of 400 μm, and a height of 500 μm.The pillars 140 can also extend perpendicularly from the face 120.

From the foregoing, it will also be appreciated that this design wouldresult in a sum of (i) the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 and (ii) thevolumes 710 of the slots 150 being equal to the product of (i) the area170 of the face 120 across which the pillars 140 are distributed and(ii) the pillar height 420 of the pillars 140, the product in this casebeing (1.12×10⁴ μm×7.6×10³ μm×500 μm), i.e. 4.26×10¹⁰ μm³.

It will also be appreciated that this design would result in each pillar140 having a transverse area 510 of (400 μm×400 μm), i.e. 1.6×10⁵ μm².It will also be appreciated that the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140 could be determined from the product of (i) the number ofpillars 140 on the face 120, (ii) the transverse area 510 of each pillar140, and (iii) the pillar height 420 of each pillar 140, the product inthis case being (19×13×400 μm×400 μm×500 μm), i.e. 1.98×10¹⁰ μm³.

It will also be appreciated that this design would result in slot widths150, as measured along the shortest distance between adjacent pillars140, of 200 μm. It will also be appreciated that the sum of the volumes710 of the slots 150 could also be determined from the differencebetween (i) the product of (a) the area 170 of the face 120 across whichthe pillars 140 are distributed and (b) the pillar height 420 of thepillars 140 and (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars 140, thedifference in this case being (4.26×10¹⁰ μm³−1.98×10¹⁰ μm³), i.e.2.28×10¹⁰ μm³.

From the foregoing, it will also be appreciated that the ratio of (i)the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of thevolumes 520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 canalso be determined, the ratio in this case being (2.28×10¹⁰μm³):(4.26×10¹⁰ μm³), i.e. 0.54:1.

As can be seen from the values above, for implantation of a hard-tissueimplant 100 made of implantable-grade polyetheretherketone having aYoung's modulus of elasticity of 18 GPa and having the dimensions notedabove, into wet human femoral bone, which as noted above has values forYoung's modulus of elasticity of E_(long) 17 GPa, E_(transv) 11.5, andE_(transv) 11.5, the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulusof the hard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, i.e. (18×1.98×10¹⁰ μm³), or 3.56×10¹¹ μm³, to (ii) theproduct of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b) the sum ofthe volumes 710 of the slots 150, i.e. (17×2.28×10¹⁰ μm³) to(11.5×2.28×10¹⁰ μm³), or 3.88×10¹¹ μm³ to 2.62×10¹¹ μm³, is 0.92:1 to1.4:1.

As another example, the hard-tissue implant 100 can be designed forimplantation in, again for example, a femur. The hard-tissue implant 100can be made, for example, of titanium, which has a Young's modulus ofelasticity of 107 GPa. The hard-tissue implant 100 can be designed suchthat the bulk implant 110 thereof has a three-dimensional rectangularprism shape with a length of 12 mm, a width of 8 mm, and a height of 3mm. The area 170 of the face 120 across which the pillars 140 aredistributed can be designed, for example, to be 11.6 mm×7.6 mm, i.e. 85mm², and to have a flat contour. The hard-tissue implant 100 caninclude, for example, pillars 140 distributed in a regular pattern of 15columns across the length of the bulk implant 110 and 10 rows across thewidth of the bulk implant 110, for a total of 150 pillars 140. Thepillars 140 can be designed to have, for example, a square shape as seenin a top view, each pillar 140 having a length of 400 μm, a width of 400μm, and a height of 500 μm. The pillars 140 can again extendperpendicularly from the face 120.

From the foregoing, it will also be appreciated that this design wouldresult in a sum of (i) the volumes 520 of the pillars 140 and (ii) thevolumes 710 of the slots 150 being equal to the product of (i) the area170 of the face 120 across which the pillars 140 are distributed and(ii) the pillar height 420 of the pillars 140, the product in this casebeing (1.16×10⁴ μm×7.6×10³ μm×500 μm), i.e. 4.41 10¹⁰ μm³.

It will also be appreciated that this design would result in each pillar140 having a transverse area 510 of (400 μm×400 μm), i.e. 1.6×10⁵ μm².It will also be appreciated that the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars could be determined from the product of (i) the number ofpillars 140 in accordance with the regular pattern 310 of distributionof the pillars 140, (ii) the transverse area 510 of each pillar 140, and(iii) the pillar height 420 of each pillar 140, the product in this casebeing (15×10×400 μm×400 μm×500 μm), i.e. 1.20×10¹⁰ μm³.

It will also be appreciated that this design would also result in slotwidths 150, as measured along the shortest distance between adjacentpillars 140, of 400 μm. Accordingly, it will also be appreciated thatthe sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 could also be determinedfrom the difference between (i) the product of (a) the area 170 of theface 120 across which the pillars 140 are distributed and (b) the pillarheight 420 of the pillars 140 and (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, the difference in this case being (4.41×10¹⁰ μm³−1.20×10¹⁰μm³), i.e. 3.21×10¹⁰ μm³.

From the foregoing, it will also be appreciated that the ratio of (i)the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of thevolumes 520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 canalso be determined, the ratio in this case being (3.21×10¹⁰ μm³):(4.4110¹⁰ μm³), i.e. 0.73:1.

As can be seen from the values above, for implantation of a hard-tissueimplant 100 made of implantable-grade polyetheretherketone having aYoung's modulus of elasticity of 18 GPa and having the dimensions notedabove, into wet human femoral bone, which as noted above has values forYoung's modulus of elasticity of E_(long) 17 GPa, E_(transv) 11.5, andE_(transv) 11.5, the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulusof the hard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, i.e. (18×1.20×10¹⁰ μm³), or 1.28×10¹² μm³, to (ii) theproduct of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b) the sum ofthe volumes 710 of the slots 150, i.e. (17×3.21×10¹⁰ μm³) to(11.5×3.21×10¹⁰ μm³), or 5.45×10¹¹ μm³ to 3.69×10¹¹ μm³, is 2.4:1 to3.5:1.

Additional alternatives for the step of designing the hard-tissueimplant 100 such that the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young'smodulus of the hard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes520 of the pillars 140 to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus ofthe hard tissue and (b) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 willbe, for example, 0.80:1 to 3.8:1, 0.90:1 to 3.6:1, 0.85:1 to 1.6:1,0.92:1 to 1.4:1, 2.2:1 to 3.7:1, or 2.4:1 to 3.5:1, can include, forexample, use of different materials for making the hard-tissue implant100, selecting different dimensions of the bulk implant 110 of thehard-tissue implant 100, selecting a different area 170 of the face 120of the hard-tissue implant 100 across which pillars 140 will bedistributed, and/or selecting different numbers, distributions, sizes,and directions of extension of the pillars 140. For example, for designof a hard-tissue implant 100 made from a hard tissue, the relatively lowYoung's modulus of elasticity of the hard tissue could be taken intoaccount, such that the hard-tissue implant 100 could be designed toyield an interface, upon implantation into a hard tissue, for which theratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of thevolumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots is approximately0.50:1 and the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus ofthe hard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140 to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 will be about1:1. Also for example, for design of a hard-tissue implant 100 forimplantation into a relatively old hard tissue, e.g. a bone of anelderly person, a relative decrease in Young's modulus of elasticityassociated with increasing age of a hard tissue can be taken intoaccount in designing the hard-tissue implant 100.

The method can also include a step of making the hard-tissue implant 100in accordance with the design. Methods for making a hard-tissue implant100 as disclosed herein include laser cutting, injection molding, andother standard fabrication methods that are well known in the art.

Methods of Using Hard-Tissue Implants

Methods will now be described for use of a hard-tissue implant 100 in ahard tissue of an individual in need thereof. As described above withreference to FIGS. 1-7, the hard-tissue implant 100 includes a bulkimplant 110, a face 120, pillars 140, and slots 150. The face 120 is anexterior surface of the bulk implant 110. The pillars 140 are forimplantation into a hard tissue. The pillars 140 are distributed on theface 120 of the hard-tissue implant 100, across an area of at least 80mm². The pillars 140 extend distally from the face 120 of thehard-tissue implant 100. Each pillar 140 is integral to the bulk implant110, has a distal end 430, has a transverse area of 510 of (200 μm×200μm) to (10,000 μm×10,000 μm), i.e. 4.0×10⁴ μm² to 1.0×10⁸ μm², and has apillar height 420 of 100 to 10,000 μm. The slots 150 are to be occupiedby the hard tissue. The slots 150 are defined by the pillars 140. Eachslot 150 has a width 152 of 100 to 10,000 μm as measured along theshortest distance between adjacent pillars 140. The hard-tissue implant100 has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10 GPa and a ratioof (i) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum ofthe volumes 520 of the pillars 140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1. The hard-tissue implant 100 does not include anypart that is hollow, and does not include any non-pillar part extendingto or beyond the distal ends 430 of any of the pillars 140.

The method includes a step of selecting the hard-tissue implant 100 suchthat the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150, is, forexample, 0.80:1 to 3.8:1, 0.90:1 to 3.6:1, 0.85:1 to 1.6:1,0.92:1 to1.4:1,2.2:1 to 3.7:1, or 2.4:1 to 3.5:1.

The method also includes a step of implanting the hard-tissue implant100 in the hard-tissue. The implanting can be done, for example, withoutrotation or twisting of the hard-tissue implant 100. The implanting canalso be done, for example, without use of adhesives, e.g. cement orgrout. The implanting can also be done, for example, without use ofscrews or plating mechanisms.

The implanting can include, for example, pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into the hard tissue, thereby providing immediate loadtransfer and preventing stress shielding. The pressing can be, forexample, by direct compression, mechanical compression, or tapping. Suchpressing can include pressing the pillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant100 into the hard tissue, such that the pillars 140 penetrate into thehard tissue, partially or completely. For example, the hard-tissueimplant 100 can be pressed into the hard-tissue such that the pillars140 penetrate the hard-tissue to a depth of, for example, 1 to 10,000μm, 100 to 5,000 μm, 200 to 2,500 μm, 300 to 1,000 μm, 400 to 600 μm,450 to 550 μm, 490 to 510 μm, or 500 μm. Also for example, the pillars140 can be pressed into the hard-tissue such that pillars 140 penetratethe hard tissue to a depth, relative to the pillar height 420 of thepillars 140, of for example 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the pillar height420 of the pillars 140.

The implanting can also include, for example, pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into the hard tissue, such that the pillars 140 are orientedperpendicularly to the primary axis of tension and compression of thehard tissue and penetrate the hard tissue, thereby providing immediateload transfer and preventing stress shielding. The term “primary axis oftension and compression of the hard tissue,” as used herein, means themain axis of the hard tissue along which forces of tension andcompression are transmitted during normal function and use of the hardtissue, e.g. the long axis of a bone such as tibia or femur. Withoutwishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by having the pillars140 oriented perpendicularly to the primary axis of tension andcompression of the hard tissue, and further by having the pillars 140penetrate the hard tissue during the implanting, that immediatelyfollowing the implanting the hard-tissue implant 100 will experienceimmediate load transfer with respect to tension and compression of thehard tissue, and that this will prevent stress shielding of the hardtissue at the interface of the hard-tissue implant 100 and the hardtissue.

Also for example, the implanting can include pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into the hard tissue, such that the pillars 140 are orientedat an acute angle relative to the direction of the pressing andpenetrate the hard tissue, thereby providing immediate load transfer andpreventing stress shielding. By the pillars 140 being oriented at anacute angle relative to the direction of the pressing it is meant thatpillars 140 are angled forward to at least some extent, i.e. are at anangle of less than 90°, relative to the direction of the path by whichthe implant 100 is pressed into the hard tissue. By being oriented at anacute angle, it is meant that a plurality of pillars 140, e.g. at least10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or 100%, are oriented atan acute angle, e.g. at angles ranging from 1° to 89°, 10° to 80°, 20°to 70°, 30° to 60°, 40° to 50°, 1° to 10°, 11° to 20°, 21° to 30°, 31°to 40°, 41° to 50°, 51° to 60°, 61° to 70°, 71° to 80°, 81° to 89°, 15°,30°, 45°, 60°, or 75°, relative to the direction of the pressing.Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by having thepillars 140 oriented at an acute angle relative to the direction of thepressing, and further by having the pillars 140 penetrate the hardtissue during the implanting, that again immediately following theimplanting the hard-tissue implant 100 will experience immediate loadtransfer with respect to tension and compression of the hard tissue,thereby providing immediate load transfer between the hard-tissueimplant 100 and the hard tissue, and that this will prevent stressshielding of the hard tissue at the interface of the hard-tissue implant100 and the hard tissue.

Also for example, the implanting can include pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into a cavity that has been milled in the hard tissue, suchthat the pillars 140 penetrate the hard tissue, thereby providingimmediate load transfer and preventing stress shielding. For example,the cavity can be milled to dimensions wider than that of the bulkimplant 110 but narrower than the bulk implant 110 including the pillars140, such that the pressing of the hard-tissue implant 100 into thecavity results in the pillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant 100contacting and penetrating the hard tissue during the pressing. Also forexample, the cavity that has been milled in the hard tissue can betapered from the surface of the hard tissue inward, i.e. wider at thesurface of the hard tissue and narrower with increasing depth in thehard tissue, such that the pressing of the hard-tissue implant 100 intothe cavity results in the pillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant 100contacting and penetrating the hard tissue only after the implant 100has been pressed to some depth in the cavity. Also for example, thehard-tissue implant 100 can be tapered, such that a tapered cavity and atapered hard-tissue implant 100 have a complementary fit, e.g. such thatpressing of the hard-tissue implant 100 into the cavity results in thepillars 140 of the hard-tissue implant 100 contacting and penetratingthe hard tissue only after the implant 100 has been pressed to somedepth in the cavity at each area of complementary fit between thetapered cavity and the tapered hard-tissue implant 100. Without wishingto be bound by theory, it is believed that by pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into a cavity that has been milled in the hard tissue, suchthat the pillars 140 penetrate the hard tissue during the implanting,that again immediately following the implanting the hard-tissue implant100 will experience immediate load transfer with respect to tension andcompression of the hard tissue, and that this will prevent stressshielding of the hard tissue at the interface of the hard-tissue implant100 and the hard tissue.

Standard approaches for implanting the hard-tissue implant 100, pressingthe hard-tissue implant 100 into hard tissue, orienting the hard-tissueimplant 100 or pillars 140 thereof, and pressing the hard-tissue implant100 into a cavity that has been milled in the hard tissue are known inthe art and can be used in the methods disclosed here.

The hard tissue can be selected, for example, from the group consistingof bone, cartilage, calcified cartilage, non-calcified cartilage, andtissue that has become mineralized. The hard tissue can also beselected, for example, from the group consisting of long bone, maxillarybone, mandibular bone, and membranous bone. The hard tissue can also beselected, for example, from the group consisting of tibia, femur,shoulder, small joints, skull, and metatarsal. The hard tissue can alsobe, for example, spine.

The hard-tissue implant 100 can be made, for example, of a materialselected from the group consisting of implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy,and titanium alloy. The hard-tissue implant 100 can be also made, forexample, from a hard tissue obtained from a human or animal selectedfrom the group consisting of an autologous hard tissue, an allogeneichard tissue, a xenogeneic hard tissue, human cartilage, animalcartilage, a human bone, an animal bone, and a cadaver bone.

The method can be applied to example embodiments of the hard-tissueimplant 100 as disclosed above. The ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes710 of the slots 150 to (ii) the sum of the volumes 520 of the pillars140 and the volumes 710 of the slots 150 can be determined essentiallyas described above with respect to designing the hard-tissue implant100. The ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant 100 and (b) the sum of the volumes 520 of thepillars 140, to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes 710 of the slots 150, can also bedetermined essentially as described above with respect to designing thehard-tissue implant 100.

The implanting can include, for example, pressing the hard-tissueimplant 100 into the hard tissue, thereby providing immediate loadtransfer and preventing stress shielding. Methods for pressing ahard-tissue implant 100 in a hard tissue are also known in the art.

Further aspects of the present disclosure will be understood inconjunction with one or more of the following examples, which areprovided by way of illustration.

EXAMPLE 1

Hard-tissue implants: Four types of pillared hard-tissue implants,herein designated implant 1, implant 2, implant 3, and implant 4, and asmooth control implant were designed and made.

Specifically, implants 1 to 3 were made from implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone (“PEEK”), having a Young's modulus of elasticity ofapproximately 18 GPa. Implant 4 was made from titanium, having a Young'smodulus of elasticity of approximately 107 GPa. All of the implants 1 to4 were made to have a generally rectangular prism shape, with a lengthof 12 mm, a width of 8 mm, and a depth of 4 mm. The bulk implants of theimplants 1 to 4 were all made with a length of 12 mm, a width of 8 mm,and a depth of 3 mm. Accordingly, the bulk implants of the implants 1 to4 each had two faces having a length of 12 mm and a width of 8 mm. Eachof the two faces was defined by a sharp edge.

Pillars were distributed in a regular pattern on the two faces of eachbulk implant of implants 1 to 4, as follows.

For implant 1 (PEEK), the pillars were distributed on each of the twofaces in 23 columns across the length of the bulk implant and 15 rowsacross the width of the bulk implant, corresponding to 345 pillars perface. The pillars were located 300 μm from the edge. The pillars wereintegral to the bulk implant. The pillars each had a length of 400 μmand a width of 400 μm, and thus a square shape as seen from a top viewand a transverse area of 1.6×10⁵ μm². The pillars each had a height of500 μm. In accordance with this distribution, the width of the slots was100 μm as measured along the shortest distance between adjacent pillars,and the slot height was 500 μm.

For implant 2 (PEEK), the pillars were distributed on each of the twofaces in 19 columns across the length of the bulk implant and 13 rowsacross the width of the bulk implant, corresponding to 247 pillars perface. The pillars were located 200 μm from the edge having a length of12 mm, and 400 μm from the edge having a length of 8 mm. The pillarswere integral to the bulk implant. The pillars each had a length of 400μm and a width of 400 μm, and thus a square shape as seen from a topview and a transverse area of 1.6×10⁵ μm². The pillars each had a heightof 500 μm. In accordance with this distribution, the width of the slotswas 200 μm as measured along the shortest distance between adjacentpillars, and the slot height was 500 μm.

For implants 3 (PEEK) and 4 (titanium), the pillars were distributed oneach of the two faces in 15 columns across the length of the bulkimplant and 10 rows across the width of the bulk implant, correspondingto 150 pillars per face. The pillars were located 200 μm from the edge.The pillars were integral to the bulk implant. The pillars each had alength of 400 μm and a width of 400 μm, and thus a square shape as seenfrom a top view and a transverse area of 1.6×10⁵ μm². The pillars eachhad a height of 500 μm. In accordance with this distribution, the widthof the slots was 400 μm as measured along the shortest distance betweenadjacent pillars, and the slot height was 500 μm.

The dimensions of the pillars and slots, with respect to one of the twofaces of each of the implants 1 to 4, and various ratios thereof,calculated essentially as described above, are shown in TABLES 1-3.

TABLE 1 Pillar length × Slot Pillar and Implant # Material width widthslot height Implant 1 PEEK 400 μm × 400 μm 100 μm 500 μm Implant 2 PEEK400 μm × 400 μm 200 μm 500 μm Implant 3 PEEK 400 μm × 400 μm 400 μm 500μm Implant 4 Titanium 400 μm × 400 μm 400 μm 500 μm

TABLE 2 Number Volume of of Volume of interface, i.e. pillars pillarsVolume of total area of (per (per slots (per implant face × face of faceof face of pillar height Implant # Material implant) implant) implant)(per face) Implant 1 PEEK 345 2.76 × 10¹⁰ 1.46 × 10¹⁰ 4.8 × 10¹⁰ μm³ μm³μm³ Implant 2 PEEK 247 1.98 × 10¹⁰ 2.28 × 10¹⁰ 4.8 × 10¹⁰ μm³ μm³ μm³Implant 3 PEEK 150 1.20 × 10¹⁰ 3.21 × 10¹⁰ 4.8 × 10¹⁰ μm³ μm³ μm³Implant 4 Titanium 150 1.20 × 10¹⁰ 3.21 × 10¹⁰ 4.8 × 10¹⁰ μm³ μm³ μm³

TABLE 3 Ratio of (i) sum Ratio of (i) of volumes of slots volume of to(ii) sum of vol- hard tissue to umes of pillars and (ii) volume ofImplant # Material volumes of slots interface Implant 1 PEEK 0.35:10.43:1 Implant 2 PEEK 0.54:1 0.59:1 Implant 3 PEEK 0.73:1 0.75:1 Implant4 Titanium 0.73:1 0.75:1

The ratios of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of volumes of the pillars to (ii)the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b) thesum of the volumes of the slots, for each of implants 1 to 4, withrespect to human femur, calculated essentially as described above, areshown in TABLE 4.

TABLE 4 Hard-tissue Material (Young's Sum of Sum of (Young's modulusE_(long), volumes volumes Implant # modulus) E_(transv), E_(transv)) ofpillars of slots Ratio* Implant 1 PEEK Human femur 2.76 × 10¹⁰ 1.46 ×10¹⁰ 2.0:1 (18 GPa) (17, 11.5, μm³ μm³ to 11.5 GPa) 3.0:1 Implant 2 PEEKHuman femur 1.98 × 10¹⁰ 2.20 × 10¹⁰ 0.92:1 (18 GPa) (17, 11.5, μm³ μm³to 11.5 GPa) 1.4:1 Implant 3 PEEK Human femur 1.20 × 10¹⁰ 3.21 × 10¹⁰0.40:1 (18 GPa) (17, 11.5, μm³ μm³ to 11.5 GPa) 0.59:1 Implant 4Titanium Human femur 1.20 × 10¹⁰ 3.21 × 10¹⁰ 2.4:1 (107 GPa) (17, 11.5,μm³ μm³ to 11.5 GPa) 3.5:1 *Ratio corresponds to ratio of (i) theproduct of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard-tissue implant and (b)the volume of the pillars to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulusof the hard tissue and (b) the sum of the volumes of the slots.

The smooth control implant was made from PEEK, had dimensions of 12 mm×8mm×3 mm, and had no pillared surfaces.

EXAMPLE 2

Mechanical and histological testing of hard-tissue implants: Themechanical and histological properties of implants 1 to 4 and thecontrol implant, as described in Example 1, and tissue-implantinterfaces thereof, were tested in an animal model. Specifically 5 largeadult male mongrels were selected. IACCUC regulated and approved surgerywas carried out. One each of implants 1 to 4 and the control implantwere implanted in each femur of each dog, the implantation being in thediaphysis posterior shaft of the femur, the implants being implanted ina single line along the long axis of the femur, the order the implantsbeing determined randomly, and the implants being oriented such that the12 mm axes of the implants were parallel to the long axis of the femur,and the 8 mm axes of the implants were orthogonal to the surface of thefemur, i.e. the implants were implanted such that the two pillared facesof each of implants 1 to 4 were in contact with the femur. Implantationwas carried out by pressing each implant into the femur. Six weeks afterimplantation, the mongrels were euthanized and the implants wereharvested. For each of implants 1 to 4 and the control implant, sixspecimens were tested mechanically and two specimens were analyzed withrespect to histology.

Mechanical testing was carried out as follows. Each specimen was testedvia a compression push-through method based on use of a compression headand a plunger. Preparation of harvested implants included cutting boneinto separate testing sections and removing medullary tissue to decreaseextra resistance. The implant surface was aligned normal to thecompression head. The plunger was a 3×10 mm piece of metal. Acompression rate of 1 mm/min was used. The upper limit of load for theload cell was 1000 N. Load (N) versus extension (mm) and load (N) tofailure were measured with respect to each specimen.

Results for extension per load are provided in FIGS. 8A-E. As can beseen in FIGS. 8C-E, the implants 2, 3, and 4, corresponding to PEEK,PEEK, and titanium implants, respectively, having slot widths of 200 μm,400 μm, and 400 μm, respectively, underwent substantial yield/elongationbefore failure. Indeed two specimens of implant 4 withstood the upperlimit of 1000 N load for the load cell. In contrast, as can be seen inFIGS. 8A and 8B, the control implant, which lacked pillars, and implant1, corresponding to a PEEK implant having a slot width of 100 μm, didnot undergo substantial yield/elongation before failure. The resultssuggest that slot widths of 200 to 400 μm enable implants to undergosubstantial yield elongation before failure.

Results for load to failure are provided in FIG. 9. As can be seen,implant 4, corresponding to a titanium implant having a slot width of400 μm, exhibited the highest average load to failure, >816 N (takinginto account that two of the samples withstood the upper limit of 1000 Nload for the load cell). Implant 2, corresponding to a PEEK implanthaving a slot width of 200 μm, exhibited the next highest load tofailure, 742 N. Implant 3, corresponding to a PEEK implant having a slotwidth of 400 μm, exhibited the next highest load to failure, 700 N.Implant 1, corresponding to a PEEK implant having a slot width of 100μm, and the control implant, corresponding to a PEEK implant lackingpillars, exhibited substantially lower loads to failure, 286 N and 46 N,respectively. The results suggest that slot widths of 200 to 400 μmenable implants to withstand relatively high load before failure.Moreover, considering these results in view of the data of TABLE 3, theresults also suggest that hard-tissue implants having a ratio of the sumof the volumes of the slots to the sum of the volumes of the pillars andthe volumes of the slots of 0.51:1 to 0.90:1, e.g. implants 2, 3, and 4,can withstand relatively high loads before failure. In addition,considering these results in view of the data of TABLE 4, the resultssuggest that hard-tissue implants additionally having a ratio of (i) theproduct of the Young's modulus of the hard-tissue implant and the sum ofthe volumes of the pillars to (ii) the product of the Young's modulus ofthe hard tissue and the sum of the volumes of the slots of between about0.80:1 to 3.8:1, e.g. implants 2 and 4, can withstand even higher loadsbefore failure.

Histological analyses were carried out using hematoxylin and eosin stainand trichrome stain. Exemplary results are shown in FIGS. 10A-D,corresponding to histological micrographs at 4× magnification of (A)implant 1 (PEEK, 100 μm slot width) face 25 μm cut H&E stain, (B)implant 2 (PEEK, 200 μm slot width) face 25 μm trichrome stain, (C)implant 3 (PEEK, 400 μm slot width) face 25 μm trichrome stain, and (D)implant 4 (titanium, 400 μm slot width) 25 μm trichrome stain. Resultsfor the histological analyses indicate that implants 1 to 4, having slotwidths of 100 μm, 200 μm, 400 μm, and 400 μm, respectively, allexhibited bone ingrowth in the slots thereof The ingrowth for implant 1was different than that of implants 2 to 4 but nonetheless occurred.Implants 2 to 4, but not implant 1, also exhibited rich vascularity inthe slots thereof. No significant inflammatory responses were noted withany of implants 1 to 4. The results indicate that the failure of implant1 to undergo substantial yield/elongation before failure and the lowerload to failure for implant 1 relative to implants 2, 3, and 4 are notdue to an absence of bone ingrowth but rather suggest that limitation ofbone volume in the interface may cause implants to fail to undergosubstantial yield/elongation before failure and to exhibit relativelylow loads to failure.

EXAMPLE 3

Prophetic example regarding hip and other prosthesis: The hard-tissueimplant, including a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots, asdescribed above, may be used in hip prosthesis to allow for earlyambulation or, potentially, immediate ambulation, with the avoidance ofa need for grout or cement, and for intimate and immediate integrationof the bone with the implant at the interface. The interface of thehard-tissue implant and the hard tissue is expected to respond tomechanical stress more like natural hard tissue than would acorresponding interface formed with a conventional implant, withpotential benefits including elimination of stress shielding. Theimplant can be, for example, a non-metal polymer implanted at a jointarticulating surface. Similarly, the hard-tissue implant may be used inshoulder prosthesis, wrist or finger joint prosthesis, ankle prosthesis,knee prosthesis, and inserts for cartilage.

EXAMPLE 4

Prophetic example regarding metatarsal wedge implants: The hard-tissueimplant, including a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots, asdescribed above, may be used in metatarsal wedge implants. In podiatry,there are patients for whom an implant wedge needs to be implanted inorder to realign and redirect the metatarsal and tarsal elements.Conventional wedge devices tend to be inadequately fixed due to poorintegration and load transfer. The hard-tissue implant as describedabove may allow for fixation with the potential for elimination ofscrews and other fixation mechanisms and may reduce the potential forimplant migration and nonunion.

EXAMPLE 5

Prophetic example regarding screws: The hard-tissue implant, including abulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots, as described above, may beformed as a screw including the pillars on threads or a helical face ofthe screw. Such a screw may be useful for spinal surgery, fixation ofplates, or ligamentous repair, e.g. anterior cruciate ligament repair ofthe knee, with the fixation end of the screw, including the pillars,being implanted into hard tissue to allow for optimal load transfer.Such a screw may also be useful for tendon insertion and anchoring.

EXAMPLE 6

Prophetic example regarding dental implants: The hard-tissue implant,including a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots, as describedabove, may also be used as a dental implant. Conventional mechanisms forfixation of dental implants having smooth surfaces or conventionalsurface morphologies in maxillary bone and mandibular bone areinadequate, based on poor load transfer with respect to compression andvertical shear from the bone to the dental implants and poor matching ofthe Young's modulus of elasticity between the dental implants and thebone. The hard-tissue implant as described above may provide improvedload transfer, based on implanting of the hard-tissue implant, in theform of a dental implant, either (i) such that the pillars of theimplant are oriented perpendicularly to the primary axis of compressionof the maxillary or mandibular bone and penetrate the maxillary bone, or(ii) by pressing the implant into the maxillary or mandibular bone suchthat the pillars of the implant are oriented at an acute angle relativeto the direction of the pressing and penetrate the bone. The hard-tissueimplant as described above may also provide improved matching of theYoung's modulus of elasticity between the implant and the hard tissue inthe interface. The resulting interface may be expected to belong-lasting, resistant to stress shielding, and resilient to load.

EXAMPLE 7

Prophetic example regarding minimally invasive surgery: The hard-tissueimplant, including a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots, asdescribed above, may also be used in minimally invasive surgery. Currentapproaches for reconstructive surgery include minimally invasive surgeryrequiring addition or removal of only a minor or superficial portion ofa hard-tissue component of a joint, finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder,knee, or (potentially) hip is required. Consequently a new interfaceneeds to be created and inserted in the corresponding hard tissue. Thehard-tissue implant as described above may be designed for earlyimpregnation and load bearing, based on good surface integration throughload bearing, with the result that no extensive use of screws or platingmechanisms would be required at the time of implantation.

EXAMPLE 8

Prophetic example regarding hard-tissue implants made from hard-tissue:The hard-tissue implant, including a bulk implant, a face, pillars, andslots, as described above, may be made from a hard tissue. For example,a hard tissue such as bone, e.g. human bone, animal bone, or cadaverbone, may be machined to form the implant as described above. Theimplant may then be implanted in an individual, e.g. a human or animal,in need thereof, e.g. a cancer patient from whom a tumor has beenremoved and into which a large segment of bone may be inserted.Machining bone to form the implant may allow for more rapid ambulation,integration, and interfacial integration, in comparison to aconventional implant. Also for example, a hard tissue such as cartilagemay be machined to form the implant as described above. The implant maythen be implanted on another hard tissue, e.g. bone, in order toresurface the other hard tissue. Implants machined from a hard tissuemay be used to replace part or all of the articulating surfaces of thehard tissues into which they are implanted, leaving most of thesurrounding hard tissue in place and thus minimizing the extent of theimplantation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hard-tissue implant comprising: (a) a bulkimplant; (b) a face being an exterior surface of the bulk implant; (c)pillars for implantation into a hard tissue, the pillars beingdistributed on the face, across an area of at least 80 mm², andextending distally therefrom, and each pillar being integral to the bulkimplant, having a distal end, having a transverse area of (200×200) to(10,000×10,000) μm², and having a height of 100 to 10,000 μm; and (d)slots to be occupied by the hard tissue, the slots being defined by thepillars and each slot having a width of 100 to 10,000 μm as measuredalong the shortest distance between adjacent pillars; wherein: thehard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10GPa, has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) thesum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1to 0.90:1, does not comprise any part that is hollow, and does notcomprise any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends ofany of the pillars.
 2. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein thehard-tissue implant is made of a material selected from the groupconsisting of implantable-grade polyetheretherketone, titanium,stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy, and titanium alloy.
 3. The hardtissue implant of claim 1, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made ofanother hard tissue selected from the group consisting of an autologoushard tissue, an allogeneic hard tissue, a xenogeneic hard tissue, humancartilage, animal cartilage, a human bone, an animal bone, and a cadaverbone.
 4. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein the face is flat.5. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein the face is cylindrical.6. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein the pillars extend in auniform direction.
 7. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein thepillars are perpendicular to the face.
 8. The hard-tissue implant ofclaim 1, wherein the transverse area of each pillar is (250×250) μm² to(1,000×1,000) μm².
 9. The hard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein theheight of each pillar is 200 to 2,500 μm.
 10. The hard-tissue implant ofclaim 1, wherein the width of each slot is 200 to 2,500 μm.
 11. Thehard-tissue implant of claim 1, wherein the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant is 18 to 25 GPa and the ratio of (i) the sum of thevolumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars andthe volumes of the slots is 0.51:1 to 0.60:1.
 12. The hard-tissueimplant of claim 1, wherein the Young's modulus of the hard-tissueimplant is 100 to 110 GPa and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes ofthe slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumesof the slots is 0.72:1 to 0.76:1.
 13. The hard-tissue implant of claim1, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, the transverse area of each pillar is (350×350) to(450×450) μm², the height of each pillar is 400 to 600 μm, the width ofeach slot is 190 to 210 μm, and the ratio of the sum of (i) the volumesof the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and thevolumes of the slots is 0.51:1 to 0.60:1.
 14. The hard-tissue implant ofclaim 1, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of titanium, thetransverse area of each pillar is (350×350) to (450×450) μm², the heightof each pillar is 400 to 600 μm, the width of each slot is 390 to 410μm, and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) thesum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots is 0.72:1to 0.76:1.
 15. A method of making a hard-tissue implant that, uponimplantation into a hard tissue, provides immediate load transfer andprevents stress shielding, the hard-tissue implant comprising: (a) abulk implant; (b) a face being an exterior surface of the bulk implant;(c) pillars for implantation into a hard tissue, the pillars beingdistributed on the face, across an area of at least 80 mm², andextending distally therefrom, and each pillar being integral to the bulkimplant, having a distal end, having a transverse area of (200×200) to(10,000×10,000) μm², and having a height of 100 to 10,000 μm; and (d)slots to be occupied by the hard tissue, the slots being defined by thepillars and each slot having a width of 100 to 10,000 μm as measuredalong the shortest distance between adjacent pillars; wherein: thehard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10GPa, has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) thesum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1to 0.90:1, does not comprise any part that is hollow, and does notcomprise any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends ofany of the pillars; the method comprising: (1) designing the hard-tissueimplant such that the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young'smodulus of the hard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of the volumes of thepillars to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes of the slots will be 0.80:1 to3.8:1; and (2) making the hard-tissue implant.
 16. The method of claim15, wherein the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus ofthe hard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of the volumes of the pillars to(ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b)the sum of the volumes of the slots is 0.90:1 to 3.6:1.
 17. The methodof claim 15 wherein the hard tissue is selected from the groupconsisting of long bone, maxillary bone, mandibular bone, and membranousbone.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the hard-tissue implant ismade of a material selected from the group consisting ofimplantable-grade polyetheretherketone, titanium, stainless steel,cobalt-chromium alloy, and titanium alloy.
 19. The method of claim 15,wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of another hard tissue selectedfrom the group consisting of an autologous hard tissue, an allogeneichard tissue, a xenogeneic hard tissue, human cartilage, animalcartilage, a human bone, an animal bone, and a cadaver bone.
 20. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made ofimplantable-grade polyetheretherketone, the transverse area of eachpillar is (350×350) to (450×450) μm², the height of each pillar is 400to 600 μm, the width of each slot is 190 to 210 μm, and the ratio of (i)the sum of the volumes of the slots to (i) the sum of the volumes of thepillars and the volumes of the slots is 0.51:1 to 0.60:1.
 21. The methodof claim 15, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of titanium, thetransverse area of each pillar is (350×350) to (450×450) μm², the heightof each pillar is 400 to 600 μm, the width of each slot is 390 to 410μm, and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) thesum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots is 0.70:1to 0.76:1.
 22. A method of use of a hard-tissue implant in a hard tissueof an individual in need thereof, the hard-tissue implant comprising:(a) a bulk implant; (b) a face being an exterior surface of the bulkimplant; (c) pillars for implantation into a hard tissue, the pillarsbeing distributed on the face, across an area of at least 80 mm², andextending distally therefrom, and each pillar being integral to the bulkimplant, having a distal end, having a transverse area of (200×200) to(10,000×10,000) μm², and having a height of 100 to 10,000 μm; and (d)slots to be occupied by the hard tissue, the slots being defined by thepillars and each slot having a width of 100 to 10,000 μm as measuredalong the shortest distance between adjacent pillars; wherein: thehard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10GPa, has a ratio of (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) thesum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1to 0.90:1, does not comprise any part that is hollow, and does notcomprise any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends ofany of the pillars; the method comprising: (1) selecting the hard-tissueimplant such that the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young'smodulus of the hard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of the volumes of thepillars to (ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hardtissue and (b) the sum of the volumes of the slots is 0.80:1 to 3.8:1;and (2) implanting the hard-tissue implant in the hard-tissue of theindividual.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the implanting comprisespressing the hard-tissue implant into the hard tissue, thereby providingimmediate load transfer and preventing stress shielding.
 24. The methodof claim 22, wherein the implanting comprises pressing the hard-tissueimplant into the hard tissue, such that the pillars are orientedperpendicularly to the primary axis of tension and compression of thehard tissue and penetrate the hard tissue, thereby providing immediateload transfer and preventing stress shielding.
 25. The method of claim22, wherein the implanting comprises pressing the hard-tissue implantinto the hard tissue, such that the pillars are oriented at an acuteangle relative to the direction the pressing and penetrate the hardtissue, thereby providing immediate load transfer and preventing stressshielding.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein the implanting comprisespressing the hard-tissue implant into a cavity that has been milled inthe hard tissue, such that the pillars penetrate the hard tissue,thereby providing immediate load transfer and preventing stressshielding.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein the hard tissue isselected from the group consisting of long bone, maxillary bone,mandibular bone, and membranous bone.
 28. The method of claim 22,wherein the ratio of (i) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of thehard-tissue implant and (b) the sum of the volumes of the pillars to(ii) the product of (a) the Young's modulus of the hard tissue and (b)the sum of the volumes of the slots is 0.90:1 to 3.6:1.
 29. The methodof claim 22, wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of a materialselected from the group consisting of implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium alloy,and titanium alloy.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein the hard-tissueimplant is made of another hard tissue selected from the groupconsisting of an autologous hard tissue, an allogeneic hard tissue, axenogeneic hard tissue, human cartilage, animal cartilage, a human bone,an animal bone, and a cadaver bone.
 31. The method of claim 22, whereinthe hard-tissue implant is made of implantable-gradepolyetheretherketone, the transverse area of each pillar is (350×350) to(450×450) μm², the height of each pillar is 400 to 600 μm, the width ofeach slot is 190 to 210 μm, and the ratio of (i) the sum of the volumesof the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and thevolumes of the slots is 0.51:1 to 0.60:1.
 32. The method of claim 22,wherein the hard-tissue implant is made of titanium, the transverse areaof each pillar is (350×350) to (450×450) μm², the height of each pillaris 400 to 600 μm, the width of each slot is 390 to 410 μm, and the ratioof (i) the sum of the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of thevolumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots is 0.70:1 to 0.76:1.